Ch4 - WW1 History

Anyone else watching this series? it's gobsmackingly interesting history.

Main historical gem tonight (in shorthand) - 1915ish. The Ruskies are
getting rid of their Jews. The Austro-Hungarian border moves North a bit
with some German help. The Germans give the Jews sanctuary. Overcome with
gratitude many of them sign up for the German army and serve with
distinction.

Rampant madness - The Italians (Allied side this time) take on the A-H types
in the mountains. They fight an Alpine war hanging from ropes on the sheer
cliff faces of Europe's toughest mountains. They dig little caves into the
side of these for shelter, hundreds of feet up. The caves get bigger, they
put bunk beds in. Thousands of men are *in* the mountains now. The start
huge tunnels under each other and mine them, blowing fucking great chunks of
mountain away. Huge avalanches follow.

You just couldn't make up stuff like this. Hope they bring it out on DVD. It
has incredible early film archive throughout.

I have little doubt that by the end of this century Hitler and Stalin will
be all but forgotten so we can start making the same mistakes again.

 

Some of it. Missed tonight's, though.

No, they won't be, and yes, we will.

 

Well perhaps not in Israel and New york but I'm betting £20 elsewhere

 

Using the patented Mavis Bacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

Hissing?
Pissing?
Dissing?
Kissing?

What? what?

 

Hog wrote

Nope, didn't even know it was on.

They will pass out of contemporary history in about 10 years time when
those who can actually remember what it was all about die out. Whether
history from then on will just record them as notable men of their times
or continue to revile them remains to be seen. I suspect that the
International Zionist Conspiracy will continue to lobby for the former.

We never stopped.

 

Nigel Eaton wrote

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you.

 

Managed to miss every episode thanks to forgetting to set the video.

Have you got kids? History in schools from age 14-16 (and IIRC all of
year 8 as well) is nothing but the Second world war. Except for a
brief interlude on the First World War and the inter-war years ...

 

By the end of the Century.......not *today*

 

pete boyall wrote

Three, all adults.

There is a world of difference between learning that 30,000 Londoners
were killed in the Blitz and having yer mum tell you about the game her
younger sisters used to play of counting the limbs not attached to
bodies on the way to school in the morning.

Or having yer grandfather tell you what odd adventures he had crawling
half a mile back from the front after he had been gassed.

 

Talking of Zionists, Pat's youngest was round today, and in the course
of conversation it transpired neither she nor her partner had ever heard
of Irgun or the Stern Gang. I did a quick google and printed out the
results for them. Their eyes were well and truly opened.

 

Why in particular, are they Jews? I doubt many people would know what you
were talking about.
You have to raise an eyebrow about the concept of a War on Terrorists when
you think of those guys and the current Israel.
Britain has been singularly incapable or unwilling to deal effectively with
terrorists at home and abroad for almost 100 years it would seem.

 

Hmmm - I guess it's my age - I forget this sort of stuff is no longer
common knowledge. Yes they were Jews. Best result - killing nearly 100
people in one hotel bomb.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Irgun
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Lehi

 

No no! *I* know who they were, I meant are your rellies Jews that you would
even suggest they might know about it 'cause otherwise I doubt it's on the
school curriculum.

 

Ah - I see what you mean. No, of no fixed religion.

Actually, they were wondering why, when Hamas' position is "halt the
peace process or we keep bombing" Israel's response is "no, you keep
bombing and *we'll* halt the peace process". No amount of history can
answer that one.

 

Including an uncle whom I was thus destined never to meet.

 

-(